UAB Blazers, Coach Bill Clark agree to contract extension

UAB head football coach Bill Clark has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Birmingham through the 2022 season.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics Director Mark Ingram announced the agreement on Friday evening.

The new deal is for five years and runs through the 2022 football season. Compensation for Coach Clark will begin at 900,000 and increase to just over $1 million over the term of the deal.

“We are excited to announce an agreement in principle to extend and enhance Coach Clark’s contract,” Ingram said. “UAB football is enjoying great success on and off the field under Coach Clark’s leadership. We are very optimistic about our future and look forward to Coach Clark being here for a long time. I want to thank Dr. Watts and his team and the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees for their unwavering support during this process.”

Clark is 11-9 overall as the Blazers head coach and has the team only one win away from bowl eligibility in their first season back after the program was reinstated after it was suspended for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

“Jennifer and I want to thank the Blazer students, fans, the Birmingham community, Dr. Watts, Mark Ingram, the UAB administration, the University Board of Trustees and the Athletics Foundation for their support of the return of UAB Football,” Clark said. “We also want to thank our players, coaches and staff for the hard work and commitment they have made for our program to be successful in the classroom, in life and on the football field.

The agreement is subject to approval by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. Officials with UAB say a meeting of the compensation committee will happen at some point in the next couple of weeks where the deal would be finalized.